Eight Healthy and Money Saving Recipes Using Peanut Butter

One of the healthiest and most money saving foods to make use of in these difficult economic times is peanut butter. I am not, however, referring to the standard brands of processed peanut butters which are aimed at kids-- slick spreads which mix peanuts with unnecessary sugars, fats and oils.

Real peanut butter-- once regarded as a specialty or health food item, now often labeled natural, consists only of peanuts and possibly salt, and is widely available in supermarkets under many generic brands. Happily, natural peanut butter has actually come down in price over the years. My local market sells its own name-brand natural peanut butter for $1.99.

Peanut butter is a paste made of a ground legume. In terms of vitamins and minerals, according to organicfacts.com, It is rich in potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, manganese, selenium, niacin, Vitamin B3, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, thiamin, pantothenic acid and riboflavin. It is high in calories, but contains no cholesterol.

Organicfacts.com also states that peanuts contribute to brain health, brain circulation and blood flow. In addition to that, peanuts are also good antioxidants. Other health benefits of peanut include protection against colon cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, heart disease, and high cholesterol.

Peanut butter is a great money saver, but I am not suggesting that we live on nothing but peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches! Let us think of peanut butter without the classic jelly-- if just for now. Let us regard it as a vital food source usable in all kinds of recipes. Here are some ways of cooking with, serving, and eating peanut butter that you may never have tried. All of these eight recipes are cheap and easy to prepare while being nutritious. Remember to use only natural peanut butter made only of peanuts and / or salt:

1) Peanut Ramen Noodles Variation 1: Fully blend a tablespoon of peanut butter with soy sauce and toss into instant ramen noodles which are cooked without the flavor packet. Add a few sesame seeds or shreds of unsweetened coconut

2) Peanut Ramen Noodles Variation 2: Prepare the same way as above but add a tablespoon on lime juice, instead of soy sauce to the peanut butter.

3) Peanut Butter Crackers with Wine: Peanut butter with shredded carrot on your favorite crackers: serve with a great but cheap red wine. Peanut butter and red wine is a winning combination-- just try it!

4) Peanut Butter and Cheddar Cheese on French Bread with Red Wine: Spread the peanut butter thinly and sprinkle with shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Serve with a great inexpensive wine.

5) Stir Fried Cabbage with Peanut Butter: Stir fry sliced onions and shredded carrots in oil till mostly cooked, add shredded cabbage and a coupe of tablespoons of peanut butter blended with the same number of tablespoons of soy sauce. Sauté and serve.

6) Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Dessert: Spread bananas thinly with peanut butter and roll in coconut and sesame seeds. Freeze. When completely frozen, cut into slices and serve.

7) Your Classic Peanut Butter Sandwich Made with Whole Grain Bread and Other than Grape Jelly: Try a variety of preserves made with only fruit juice.

8) Peanut Butter and Lime Sauce over Green Beans: Blend peanut butter, Lime juice and a bit of salt and toss and drizzle over lightly cook Green Beans